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Should I report to my supervisor if 1 of my team mate is not doing his work? Or would that mean I'm not a good team member?

Panda Quests on August 09, 2020

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gwutama profile image
Galuh Utama • Edited

Yes and no. But basically no if you and other team members can sort the problem within the team.

Escalating matters should be done if they’re above your pay grade or you want to raise issues to your direct manager that you know you can’t handle yourself.

Think about it. Nobody likes a tattle tale.

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pandaquests profile image
Panda Quests

You are so right!

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jbruton profile image
James Bruton

In a team, everyone should be pulling their weight. It isn't fair for a few members to carry the rest. If you're worried about getting your team mate into trouble, you might speak to them first to see if you can help them overcome any blockers. It could be something easily resolved.

If they're finding the work too challenging generally, or they're having issues in their personal life that are interfering with work, they need to speak to the supervisor.

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pandaquests profile image
Panda Quests

I think talking to him first is a good approach.

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fjones profile image
FJones • Edited

I think we need more details here. Is that team member not doing tasks assigned to them, or ones they could accomplish? Are they using the time not spent actively working in some other productive way? Are they simply slow, or are they taking a lot of breaks? Are they balancing out with overtime? Are they a junior developer?

This can be a motivational issue. It can also be a work-break balance thing. It can be laziness or they're keeping themselves free for urgent issues/pair programming.

What workflow are you using? This could also simply be a matter of setting personal targets and achieving them - perhaps a mismatch with the overall project targets.

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pentacular profile image
pentacular

Them not doing their work isn't your problem.

Them causing problems for work is your problem.

Talk to your supervisor about the problems you actually have. :)

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pandaquests profile image
Panda Quests

The project is going slow and it is affecting all of us.

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pentacular profile image
pentacular

Then talk to your supervisor about the project going slow, and provide supporting information.

Rather than saying "X is not doing their work", say, "A was three weeks late, and B had to be redone, and C ...", and then ask the supervisor what can be done to avoid these kinds of problem in the future?

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pandaquests profile image
Panda Quests

Yes. That is a good approach

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norrova profile image
Norro valentin • Edited

You should to speak and ask why he isn't working... sometimes not good member have a lot problem like motivation or mental, the first key of team is speak...

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pandaquests profile image
Panda Quests

True! I totally agree!